Egg carton



Eens., l2, 3950 w. H. ALLEN HAL 29533934@ y EGG CARTON Filed Jan. 24,1947 '7 Sheets-Shee' l 29 Z550 52 Z25- 1 15 if if iff u wig @y r .I 51 w52 @147 j" I 28, 1X9/ 56 V 145 1,-148

Dec.. B29 3950 w. H. ALLEN ETAL. 2,533,340

EGG CARTON Filed Jan. 24, 1947 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 yg Z8 z Z Z523 54 Z5 5/74 58. 57 Z9 Z4 Z6 10s/I UP K Z0 jj j 77 /7 ZZ lDec. 25 i950 W. H.ALLEN ETAL 2,533,340

EGG CARTON Filed Jan. 24, 194? '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. l.2 3950 w. H.ALLEN ETAL l 2,533,340

EGG CARTON Filed Jan. 24, 1947 fr sheets-sheet 4 F? .i J 7 Z 4 19 50Z35j jig/2853 2/'8 4 z5 j f m ,2f 3f A M H M M M gg 96; -97 3J .92 98L+;

79 fao 57 58 53 f3 35 7 j'721`7zf075.'

Dec. 12 1950 w. H. A| EN ErAL EGG CARTON Filed Jan. 24, 194'? '7Sheets-Sheet 5 f 4 .5f jj /07 M M H H M /35 i! 4 4 ffy j? I 4 f5 @,657 Z/54 iff@ a 16x49 548145247 l (11111111 l n l Dec. l2,

Filed Jan.

1950 w. H. ALLEN ETAL 2,533,340

EGG cARToN 24, 1947 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 ./'CT /j j Dc. l2, 1950 w. H.ALLEN ErAl. 2,533,340

EGG CARTON Filed Jan. 24, 1947 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 5a 85a 47a M M H ajaaa. 46a /724 jZa /68539 125;

Patented Dee.. i2, i950.

EGG CARTON William H. Allen, Teaneck, and Maynard G. Hall,

Rutherford, N. J assignors to Empire Box Corporation, Garfield, N. J., acorporation of Dela- Application January 24, i947, Serial No. 726,168

- l2 Claims.

This invention relates to egg cartons. More specifically. this inventionrelates to egg cartons which are made from a single blank which is cut,scored or creased. and glued to form a unitary egg carton.

The present invention relates to an egg carton which represents animprovement upon the egg carton which is disclosed and claimed in thecopending application of the applicant, William H. Allen, on Egg Cartonsiiled March 21, 1945, Serial No. 583,988. Like the egg carton whichforms the subject matter of the aforesaid application the egg carton ofthe present application is formed from a single blank of paperboardwhich is cut, scored. glued and folded to form an egg carton whichincludes a front wall, a rear wall, a central longitudinal partition, apair oi bottom wall sections which are inclined upwardly from theirouter ends to their inner ends where they are integrally joined to thecentral longitudinal partition. The bottom wall sections are heldininclined and cushion-forming position by means of primary bottomwall-supporting feet or members which entend below the central1ongitudinal partition in the same vertical plane therewith. Each ofthese primary bottom wall supporting feet or members is formed from apair of adhesively joined elements or tongues one of which is partiallycut from one of the bottom wall sections of the carton and the other oiwhich adhesively joined elements or tongues is formed as an integralpart of one of the central longitudinal partition-forming sections ofthe carton. By means of this construction, which is also embodied in theegg carton which forms the subject matter of the above-entitledapplication. the bottom wall sections of. the egg carton are held inraised and inclined cushion-forming position without being supported byor from the transverse partitions or egg cell dividers as was thecustomary practice heretofore prior to the carton which forms thesubject matter of the afore-u said application.

We have now iound.l1owever, that occasionally one of the adhesivelyconnected elements of the primary bottom wall supporting feet or memberswhich are embodied in the egg carton which forms the subject matter ofthe aforesaid application may become detached or unglued from itscompanion element when the egg carton is filled and in use and this mayoccasionally result in a tendency of one or more of such primary bottomwall-supporting elements to fail to perform its or their intendedfunctions of supporting the inner end portions of the bottom wallsections in raised and inclined cushion-forming position.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to improve upon theegg carton which forms the subject matter of the aforesaid applicationby providing in 'the said egg carton auxiliary supporting members whichare integrally and hingedly joined to one of the central longitudinalpartition-forming sections and which are adhesively joined to one of thebottom wall sections of the carton for the purpose of supporting theinner end portions of the said wall sections of the carton in raised andinclined cushion forming position particularly in the event that theadhesively joined elements of one or more of the primary supporting feetor members should become unglued or detached from each other and thusfail partly or entirely to perform its intended function of supportingthe inner end portions of the bottom wall sections in raised andinclined cushion-forming position.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a one-pieceegg carton blank em bodying the new auxiliary bottom wall-supports ingelements.

A further object of the invention is to design the egg carton blank fromwinch the new egg carton is made in such a manner that all oi the partsthereof are formed within and lie en tirely within the substantiallyparallel side mar'a ginal edges of the carton blank, thereby eectins aneconomy in the amount oi paperboard stock required to form the new ege,carton blank as compared to comparable egg carton blanks in whichcertain parts such as the end aps are formed in part :Erom paperboardstock which project outwardly beyond the side marginal edges of theblank.

Another object of the invention is to provide in one form of theinvention an egg carton which embodies all of the novel features of thenew egg carton which has been referred to hereinbefore and, in additionthereto, is transversely divisible so that it may be readily manuallydivided into two twin egg carton sections each holding six eggs in tworows of three.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel method of cutting,scoring, gluing and assembling an egg carton blank to form the new eggcarton having the novelfeatures and advantages hereinbefore referred to.

A further object of the invention is to provide in the new egg carton anovel construction for preventing rupturing of the end portions or endwebs of the bottom walls of the carton and for preventing the downwardlyfoldable end flaps of the new egg carton from being pushed outwardlyfrom the slots or openings in the bottom walls of the carton in whichthe lower end portions of said end aps are extended downwardly throughtrated in Figs. 1 to 10, inclus the said slots or openings and thecarton is tllled with eggs.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent fromthe following description and claims and are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show preferredembodiments of the invention and the principles thereof. and what We nowconsider to be the best modes in which we' have contemplated applyingthose principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the sameor equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be madeas desired by those skilled in the art without departing from thepresent invention and the purview of the appended claims.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a blank from which a typical embodiment of thenew egg carton may be made;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the parts of the blank shown in Fig. 1after the completion of the first gluing and folding operation involvedin forming the new one-piece collapsible egg carton from the blank shownin Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view on line 3-3 in Fig. 2showing the relative positions of the parts after the first gluing andfolding operation referred to in the description of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the parts of the blank shown in Fig. 1after the completion of the second gluing and folding operation involvedin forming the new one-piece collapsible carton from the blank shown inFig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view on line 5-5 in Fig. 4 showing therelative positions of the parts after the completion ofthe second gluingand folding operation referred to in the description of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view showing in flat, collapsed condition acompleted and fully assembled carton formed from the blank shown in Fig.1 ready for shipment and prior to being set up or erected for thereception of eggs;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view on line 1-1 in Fig. 6 showing therelative positions of the parts as they appear in the completedcollapsed carton shown in Fig. 6; y

Fig. 8 is a top plan view showing a completely assembled egg cartonerected from the collapsed form shown in Figs. 6 and 7, and made fromthe blank illustrated in Fig. 1, in erected condition and showing theparts thereof as they appear when the egg cells of the carton arefilled;

Fig. 9 is a central longitudinal vertical sectional view on line 9-9 inFig. 8;

Fig. 10 is an end elevational view on line I0-I0 in Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of an egg carton blank embodying a modified formof the invention and from which a transversely divisible carton may bemade;

Fig. 12 is a top plan view of a transversely divisible and assembled anderected egg carton formed from the egg carton blank shown in Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a central longitudinal vertical sectional view on line I3-I 3in Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is an end elevational view on line I4-I4 in Fig. 12, a part ofthe cover being broken away; and

Fig. 15 is a transverse vertical sectional view on line I 5-I 5 in Fig.12, a part of the cover being broken away.

One form of the present invention is illusive, of the drawings,

and comprises a one-piece carton'blank l5, shown in Fig. l, and whichmay be cut from any suitable paperboard or cardboard or other suitablestock which may be used in making egg cartons. As shown in Fig. l, theblank is generally indicated at I5 and comprises a bottom wall I6 whichincludes two bottom wall sections I1 and I8 which are integrally joinedby a fold line I9 which extends longitudinally of the bottom wall I6 andtransversely relative to the long axis of the blank I5. The blank I5also includes a front wall section 20, which is integrally joined to thebottom wall section I8 by a fold line 2|, and a rear wall section 22which is integrally joined to the bottom w`all section I1 by a fold line23. The blank I5 also includes a top wall or cover section 24 which isintegrally joined to the rear wall section 22 by a fold line 25 and acover latching strip section or flap 26 which is integrally joined tothe top wall section or cover 24 .by a fold line The cover latchingsection or flap 26 is provided with attaching hoOks 28 and cutoutportions or notches 29 to 35, inclusive, which will be referred to againhereinafter.

'Ihe blank from which the new egg carton shown in Figs. 1 to 10,inclusive, is formed also includes a pair of longitudinal or centerpartition-forming and transverse partition-forming and end flap-formingsections.36 and 31 which are arranged contiguous to each other in theblank (Fig. 1). The sections 36 and 31 are integrally joined by a pairof aligned but spaced fold lines 38 which are arranged at opposite endsof the carton blank (Fig. 1). The two fold lines 38 are arranged atopposite ends of a U- shaped portion or tongue |96 which is formed as anintegral extension of the section 36 and by forming a correspondinglypartially eut-out portion I94 in the section 31. As shown in Fig. 1, anattaching strip or so-called glue strip 39 is integrally connected tothe center or longitudinal partition-forming transversepartition-forming section 31, at one end of the blank.

The longitudinal or center partition-forming and transversepartition-forming and end flapforming section 36 includes a main bodyportion 203 and formed integral with this main body portion 203, at oneside thereof, is a series of cover-supporting elements 40, 4 I, 42, 43,44 and 45 (Fig. 1). The longitudinal or center partitionforming andtransverse partition-forming and end flap-forming section 31 includes amain body portion 46 and formed integrally with this main body portion46 is a series of cover-supporting elements 41, 48, 49, 50, 5I and 52,respectively (Fig. 1). Likewise, the section 36 has a pair of end wallsor end flaps 53 and 54 formed therein at the ends thereof and thesection 31 has a pair of similarly shaped end walls or end aps 55 and 56formed therein at the ends thereof.

As shown in Fig. l, the bottom wall forming section I1 of the blank I5has a series of spaced tongues or bottom wall-supporting elements 51,58, 59 and 60 formed therein. These tongues or bottom wall-supportingelements 51, 58, 59 and 60 are partially cut from the bottom wallsection I1 to provide openings or slots |02, |03, I04 and |05,respectively, in the bottom wall section I1. The tongues or bottomwall-supporting elements 51, 58, 59 and 60 are hingedly connected at oneside to the bottom wall section I8 along the fold line I9. The tongueportion |96 of the body 203 of the center and longitudinalpartition-forming section 36 has a series of spaced tongues or bot-'formed therein and, as will be explained hereinafter, in the glued,assembled and erected condition of the carton these tongues or bottomwallsupporting elements 6|, G2, 63 and 64 are glued to and cooperatewith the tongues or bottom wallsupporting elements 51, 88, 59 and 60,respectively, to provide primary supporting elements or supporting feetwhich. extend downwardly from the central longitudinal partition in thesame vertical plane therewith and cooperate with the centrallongitudinal partition to retain the inner end portions oi the' bottomwall sections I1 and I8 in raised and inclined cushion-forming position.

The tongue portion |96 of the body 203 of the central longitudinalpartition-forming section also has a series of spaced auxiliary bottomwallsupporting elements 65. 86 and 61 formed therein. These spacedauxiliary supporting elements 05, 66 and 61 are hingedly connected tothe body 208 vof the said central longitudinal partitioniorming section36 by means of fold lines 68, 60 and 10, respectively, which extendparallel to the fold lines 38 between the latter (Fig. 1). As will beexplained hereinafter, in the glued and assembled and erected conditionof the new egg carton these auxiliary supporting elements 65, 66 and 81are adhesively secured along and by means o a glue line ii tocomplementary tongue portions or areas l2, 18 and 'I4 which are formedas integral parts of the bottom wall section il. These tongue portionsor areas 12, 13 and 14 of the bottom wall section il! are disposedbetween 'the adjacent pairs of tongues 51-58, 58-58 and ESQ- 88,respectively, and the said tongues 12, 18 and lo cooperate with thetongues 65, 86 and 61, respectively, to which they are glued, to provideauxiliary supporting elements for maintaining the central longitudinalpartition and the bottom wall sections il and i8 in assembled relationand in raised and inclined cushion-forming position if at any time inthe use of the new egg carton the rparts of some or all of the mainsupporting elements formed by the adhesively joined pairs of tonguesi--iit dii-62, 59-63 and Gil-tft should become separated or detachedfrom each other by failure of the adhesive or glue connectionstherebetween.

The bottom wall section i'i' has a slot 'or opening i5 iormed in one endportion thereof. As shown in Fig. l, this slot or opening 'i5 has anouter side edge 'it which is disposed inwardly of and extends parallelto the side marginal edge il of the carton blank i5. The slot or opening'iii also has a somewhat curved or arcuate inner side edge 'i8 and anend edge 18 which extends angularly between and interconnects the sideedges it and le. This arrangement provides a generally triangular-shapedlatching portion or area 80 in the bottom wall section i1, between theend edge i8 of the opening or slot 15 and the fold line i9. Thislatching portion or area 80 is adapted to be latchingly engaged by ahook-shaped lower end portion 8i of the end wall or end iiap 56 when thenew carton is in glued, assembled, erected and filled condition, forreasons which will be described hereinafter.

The bottom wall-forming section I1 has a second slot or opening 82formed in its other end portion (Fig. 1). This slot or opening 82 has anouter side edge 83 which is disposed inwardly of and extends parallel tothe side edge 84 of the carton blank I5. Likewise, the slot or opening82 has a somewhat curved orvarcuate-shaped inner side edge 85 and anangularly extending edge B6 which interconnects the inner side edge 88with the outer side edge 88 oi the slot or opening 82. This arrangementprovides a generally triangular-shaped latching portion or area I1between the end edge 88 of the slot or opening 82 and the fold line i8,and in the glued, assembled, erected and illled condition of the cartonthis generally triangular-shaped latching portion 81 is latchinglyengaged by a hook-shaped lower end portion 88 of the end wall or end apI8, for a reason which will be set forth hereinafter.

The bottom wall-forming section I8 oi the carton blank I6 has a slot oropening 80 formed in one end portion thereof and this slot or opening 89has an outer side edge 80 which is disposed inwardly of and extendsparallel to the side marginal edge 11 of the carton blank I6 (Fig. i);The slot or opening 89 has a somewhat curved or arcuate-shaped innerside edge 8| and an angularly extending edge 82 which extends betweenand interconnects the inner and outer side edges 8| and 80.respectively, of the slot or opening 88. This arrangement provides agenerally triangular-shaped area or latching portion 83 in the bottomwall-forming section I8 between the angularly extending end edge 82 ofthe slot or opening 88 and the fold line I9. This latching portion 83 isadapted to be latchingly engaged by the hook-shaped lower end portion 84of the end ilap or end wall 54 when the new carton is glued',

assembled, erected and lled, for a reason which will be describedhereinafter.

The bottom wall section I8 also has a second opening or slot formedtherein, in the other' end portion thereof and this slot or opening 95fhas an outer side edge 96 which is disposed inwardly of and extendsparallel to the marginal side edge 84 of the carton blank I5. The slotor opening 95 also has a somewhat curved or arcuate inner side edge lilland an angularly extending end edge 88 which interconnects thev innerand outer side edges 86 and 9i, respectively, of the slot or opening 85.This arrangement provides a. generally triangular-shaped latching areaor portion i00 in the bottom wall-formingr section i8 between the slotor opening 95 and the foldv of the slots or openings l5, 82, 89 and 95,respec-` tively, and the adjacent marginal side edges il" and 84 of thecarton blank I5, as shown in Fig. l.

The longitudinal or center partition-forming and transversepartition-forming and end riapforming section 36 also has a series oftransverse partitions or egg cell dividers ||0, Ii'l, |24, I3I and |38formed therein and the longitudinal or center partition-forming andtransverse partif tion-forming and end nap-forming section 3 1 has acorresponding and complementary row of transverse partitions or egg celldividers |08, |58, |63, |10 and |11 formed therein (Fig. 1).

By reference to Fig. l it will be noted that the end wall or end ap 54is hingedly connected at its outer end by fold lines |06 to a supportinghinge web |01. The two fold lines |06 are separated by an intermediatecurved knife cut WGW and the other end flaps 53, 55 and 56 are similarlyformed. The supporting hinge web |01 is connected at one end by a foldline |08 to the front wall section 20 and the hinge web |01 is connectedat its other end to the section 36 by a fold line |09.

The end flap 53 is hingedly connected at its outer end by fold lines |84to a hinged supporting web |85 which is attached at one end to thesection 36, by a fold line |86, and which is attached at its other endby a fold line |81 to the front wall section 20. Similarly, the end flap55 is hingedly connected at its outer end by fold lines |88 to a hingedsupporting web |89 which is attached at one end by a fold line |90 tothe guide strip 39, the other end portion of the hinged supporting web|89 being hingedly attached by a fold line |9| to the section 31.Likewse, the end flap 56 is hingedly connected at its outer end by foldlines |45 to a hinged supporting web |43 which is hingedly attached atone end, by a fold line |41, to the section 31, thc other end portion ofthe hinged supporting web |46 being attached by a fold line |48 to theglue strip 30.

As shown in Fig. 1, t'he transverse partitions or egg cell dividersIII), |I1, |24, |3| and |38 are integrally joined at one side by foldlines ||4, |2I, |28, |35 and |42 to triangular-shaped attaching andhinge webs II5, |22, |29, |36 and |43, respectively. These attaching andhinge webs II5, |22, |29, |36 and |43 are integrally connected by foldlines |I6, |23, |30, |31 and |44, respectively, to the front wallsection 20. At their other side the transverse partitions or egg celldividers ||0, ||1, |24, I3I and |38 are connected by fold lines III,II8, |25, |32 and |39 to triangular-shaped attaching and hinge webs II2, IIS. |26, |33 and |40, respectively, and these attaching and hingewebs ||2, |I9, |26, |33 and |40 are formed integrally with the body 203of the longitudinal partition-forming and transverse partition-formingand end flap-forming section 35 (Fig. 1).

The transverse partitions or egg cell dividers |49, |56, |63, |10 and|11 are hingedly connected at one side by fold lines |53, |60, |61, |14and |8| to triangular-shaped attaching and hinge webs |54, |6I, |68, |15and |82, respectively, and these triangular-shaped attaching and hingewebs |54,

|6I, |68, |15 and |82 are formed integrally with the body 46 of thelongitudinal partition-forming and transverse partition-forming and endflapforming section 31. At their other side the transverse partitions oregg ceil dividers |49, |55, |63, |10 and |11 are hingedly connected byfold lines |50, |51, |64, |1I and |18 to triangular-shaped attaching andhinge webs |5I, |58, |65, |12 and |19, respectively, and thesetriangular-shaped attaching and hinge webs I5I, |58, |65, |12 and |19are formed integrally with the glue strip 39 (Fig. 1).

As shown in Fig. 1, the transverse partitions or egg cell dividers II1,|49, |56 and |11 have angularly extending fold lines Illa, I49a, |5Eaand |11a, respectively, formed therein, and these fold lines formlsubstantially triangular shaped hinged 'foot portions or feet ||1b,I49b, |5512 and |11b in the outer end portions of the said transversepartitions or egg cell dividers ||1, |49, |56 and |11, respectively, fora purpose which v.il\ be referred to hereinafter.

In gluing, forming and assembling the carton blank shown in Fig. 1 toform the carton which is to be made therefrom, and as the carton ispassed through the gluing and forming machine, a glue strip 1I is placedupon one side edge portion of the bottom wall section I1 adjacent thefold line I9 and. as shown in Fig. 1. this glue strip 1| extends acrossthe upper surfaces of the parte or tongues 51, 63. 53 and 60 and alsoacross the upper surfaces of the tongue portions or areas 12, 13 and 14which are formed in the bottom wall section I1. The center orlongitudinal partition-forming and transverse partition-forming and endflapforming sections 36 and 31 and the attached glue strip 38 are thenfolded as a unit upon the fold line |08-II6--|23-|30-I31-|44, as ahinge, into the position in which the parts are shown in Figs. 2 and 3of the drawings. During this first gluing and folding operation theparts or elements 6|, 62, 63 and 64 which are embodied in the tongueportion |96 of the body 203 of the center 'or longitudinalpartition-forming and transverse-partition forming and end flap-formingsection 36 are positioned above and are pressed into contact with andare thus glued to the adhesively coated upper surfaces of the tongues51, 58, 59 and 60, respectively. At the same time, the auxiliary lbottomwall-supporting elements 65, 86 and 61, which are also formed in thetongue portion |96 of the body 203 of the section 36, are disposed aboveand are glued to the adhesively coated upper surfaces of the parts orareas 12, 13 and 14, respectively, of the bottom wall section I1. Theparts of the thus partially assembled carton are then disposed in theposition in which they are shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings.

When the parts of the new carton blank I5 are disposed in the positionin which they are shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings a glue stripe|91 is placed upon the then upper surface of the body portion 46 of thesection 31 from end to end thereof and in the area thereof which isdisposed between the cut-out portion |94 and the inner ends of thecover-supporting elements 41 to 52, inclusive, as shown in Fig. 2.

The center or longitudinal partition-forming and transversepartition-forming and end flapforming section 31 and attached glue strip39 are then folded, as a unit, upon the fold lines 38 as a hinge ontoand into a position above but parallel to the section 36. This operationbrings the adhesively coated surface of the body portion 46 of thesection 31 into contact with the body portion 203 of the section 36. Itwill be noted, however, that during this operation the tongue portion|96 of the body 203 of the section 36 remains stationary and does notpivot with the section 31 by reason of the adhesive attachment of theparts 6|-65-62-66-63-61 and 64 with the parts 51--12-58-13-59--14 and60, respectively. The parts then appear in the position in which theyare shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings.

When the parts the thus disposed in the position in which they are shownin Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings, the then upper surface of the gluestrip 39 is provided with an adhesive coating or glue strip |95 (Figs. 4and 5). The sections 31 and 36, the front wall section 20, and thebottom wall section I8 are then pivoted as a unit, upon the fold lines38 as hinges (clockwise, Fig. 5) into the position in which the partsare shown in Figs. 6 and '1 of the drawings.

This nal folding operation brings the adhesively coated surface |95 ofthe glue strip 39 above and into adhesive engagement with the then uppersurface of the :bottom wall-forming section 22, thereby completing thegluing, folding sasso and assembly of the carton blank Il to form thenew egg carton which then appears in the flat, collapsed position inwhich it is shown in Figs. 6 and 'I oi the drawings ready for shipmentand use.

In order to erect the new egg carton from the completely assembled butflat, collapsed position in which it is shown in Figs. 6 and '1, it ismerely necessary to pull the front wall section 20 and the bottom wailsection I outwardly from collapsed or dat condition, as in Figs. 6 and7, and away from the rear wall section 22. This movement of the frontwall -section and of the bottom wall section I8 attached thereto pullsthe two end naps 54 and 53 and the row of transverse partitions or eggcell dividers IIO, II1, |24, I3I and |30 which are connected to the saidiront wall section 20, into horizontal position. This movement of theend iiaps 54 and 53 and of the transverse partitions or egg celldividers IIO, II1, |24, I3I and into horizontal position moves the bodyportions 203 and 48 of the center or longitudinal partition-formingsections 38-31 into upright or vertically extending position. As thebody portions 203 and 40 oi' the center or longitudinalpartition-forming sections 35 and 31 are thus moved into upright orvertically extending position they move the other two end ilaps 55 and58 and the other row of transverse partitions or egg cell dividers |11,|18, |83. |58 and |49 disposed therebetween into horizontal position. Asthe carton shown in Figs. l to 10, inclusive, is thus erected from itsflat or collapsed condition, as seen in Figs. 46 and 7, into erectedcondition, as

seen in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, the primary bottom wall-supporting feet ormembers which are formed by the adhesively joined or laminated parts8l-51, 62-58, Sii-59, and 84-50 are moved into upright verticalsupporting position under the bottom wall of the carton and into thesame vertical plane with the center or longitudinal partition. Duringthis operation the auxiliary bottom wall-supporting members 65, 88 and51 pivot upon their fold lines 58, 89 and 10, respectively, as hinges.and with the bottom wall section I1 to which they are adhesivelyattached, into a position above and parallel to the said bottom wallsection I1. The erection of the carton may then be completed by swingingthe end walls or end flaps 53, 54, 55 and 58 downwardly upon their foldlines |84, |08, |88, and |45, respectively, as hinges, and meanwhileinserting the hook-shaped lower end portions IBI, 94, 88 and 8| of theseend walls or end flaps 53, 54, 55 and 58 into the slots or openings 95,89, 82 and 15, respectively, which are formed in the bottom wallsections I1 and I8 of the carton. Eggs may then be inserted into the eggcells in the thus erected carton and as the eggs are inserted thereinthe egg cell dividers or transverse partitions |49, |56, 63, |10, |11,IIIJ, II1, |24, |3I and |38 are swung or forced downwardly thereby ontheir fold lines G-|53, I51I50, I64--I61, |1I-|14, |18-I8I, III-H4,II8-I2I, I25-I28, I32I35, and 938-642, respectively, as hinges, into thevertisally extending position in which they are shown in Figs. 8 and 9of the drawings.

It will be noted that as and when the transverse partitions or egg celldividers ||1, |49, |56 and |11 are moved into vertically extendingposition the hinged feet II1b, |491, I56b and I11b wipingly engage theupper surface of the bottom wall sections I8 and I1 of the carton and inso doing pivot upon their fold lines II1a, I49a, Ia,

l0 I11a. respectively, as hinges, relative to the body portions oi' thetransverse partitions or egg cell dividers II1, |49. |58 and |11,respectively. These hinged feet II1b, I49b, I58b and I11b thus come torest in contact with and in planes substantially parallel to the uppersurfaces of the bottom wall sections I8 and I1, as shown in Figs. 8 and10. These feet II1b, I49b, I58b and I11b thus assist in retaining thetransverse partitions or egg cell dividers in eilective uprightposition.

It will be noted that when the new egg carton has been thus erected andfilled the hook-shaped lower end portions 8|, 84, IOI and 88 of the endwalls or end flaps 58, 54, 53 and 55, respectively.

project downwardly through the slots or openings 15, l88, l2 and 95,respectively, in the bottom wall sections I1 and I8 of the carton andbelow the said bottom wall sections I1 and I8, as shown in Fig. 10 ofthe drawings. 'I'his arrangement is such that when eggs are placed inthe end cells of the erected new egg carton the eggs tend to urge thelower end portions of the end flaps 58,'

54, 53 and 55 outwardly toward and into engagement with the side edges18, 90, 83 and 98 of the slots or openings 15. 89, 82 and 95,respectively, in the bottom wall sections I1 and I8 of the carton.During this movement of the said end aps 56. 54, 53 and 55 thehook-shaped lower end portions 8|, 94, |0| and 88 thereof, respectively,latchingly engage under the generally triangular-shaped lai'ehing websor portions 88, 93, 81 and |00, respectively, which are formed in thebottom wall sections I1 and I8 between the angularly extendlng edges 18,92, 88 and 98 of the slots or openings 15, 89, 82 and 95, respectively,and the adjacent median fold line I9 between the bottom wall sections I1and I8 of the carton. This latching engagement of the hook-shaped lowerend portions 8|, 94, IUI and 88 of the end flaps 56, 54, 53 and 55 withthe said triangular-shaped latching web portions 80, 93, 81 and |08,respectively, of the bottom wall sections I1 and I8 prevents the saidend ilaps 56, 54, 53 and 55 from being forced outwardly out of the slotsor openings 15. 89, 82 and 95 in the bottom wall sections I1 and I8 andthereby substantially eliminates or minimizes breakage of the eggs inthe end cells-of the erected carton. At the same time this latchingarrangement substantially eliminates, or at least greatly minimizes, thepossibility of tearing or rupturing of the end webs |99, 200. 20| and202 which are formed in the bottom wall sections I1 and I8 of the cartonbetween outer side edges 18, 90, 83 and 95 of the slots or openings 15,89, 82 and 95, respectively, and the adjacent end edges of the bottomwall sections I1 and I8.

When the new egg carton is in erected and lled condition the bottom wallsections I1 and I8 thereof are held in raised and inclinedcushion-forming condition primarily by the coacton of the body portions203 and 46 of the central longitudinal partition sections 35 and 31 andthe primary bottom wall-supporting elements which are formed by theadhesively joined parts 51-5I, 58-82, 59-53 and 60-64. The primarybottom wall-supporting elements 51-5I, 5882, 59-63 and 50-64, thusformed, extend vertically downwardly from the central longitudinalpartition in the same vertical plane therewith.

It will be noted, however, that if the adhesively joined parts of theprimary bottom wall-supporting elements 51-5I, 58-82, 59-63 and Bil- 64,or any of them, should become detached or separated when the new eggcarton is illled and in use, or prior to erection, filling andi use, the

auxiliary bottom wall-supporting elements which are formed by theadhesive connection of the hinged elements 85, 56 and 31 of the section31 with the corresponding areas or portions 12, 13 and 14 of the bottomwall section I1 will serve to retain the inner end portions of thebottom wall sections I1 and I8 in raised and inclined cushionformingposition. It will further be noted, in this connection, that the areasor portions 12, 13 and 14 of the bottom wall section I1 to which theauxiliary bottom wall-supporting elements 65, 58 and 51 are adhesivelyjoined are integrally connected by and along the median fold line I9 tothe bottom wall section |8 and hence the supporting action of theseauxiliaryl bottom wallsupporting elements 65, 63 and 61 is likewiseexerted or transmitted through the bottom wall section I1 to the bottomwall section I 8.

The cover section 24 may then be pivoted, along the i'old line 25, intoa position above the body of the filled egg carton whereupon the coverlatching strip or ilap 26 may be latchingly engaged in closed position,inwardly of and substantially parallel to the front wall section 20. Thecover latching ilap or strip 26 is thereupon held in closed position byengagement of the latch tongues 28 thereon under the triangular-shapedwebs ||5, |22, |29, |36 and |43 (Fig. 8) and this movement of the coverlatching flap or strip 26 into latched position is facilitated by theprovision of the notches 29 to 35, inclusive, therein, as is wellunderstood in the art. The thus erected and filled and closed cartonmaythen be packed and shipped in a conventional fifteen or thirty dozenegg crate, or otherwise.

When the cover section 24 and its attached latching strip or flap 26 arein closed position, the cover section 24 bears along its longitudinalcenter upon, and is supported by, the upper end portions of theadhesively connected cover-supporting elements 52-45, 5|-44, Sil- 43,49-42, 484| and 41-40 which are formed as integral parts of the bodyportions 203 and 46 of the longitudinal or center partition sections 36and 31 and the weight of other illled cartons resting upon the coversection 24 is transmitted through the body portions 203 and 46 of thelongitudinal partition sections 36 and 31 to the primary bottomwallsupporting elements formed by the adhesively connected parts 51-6|,58-62, 59-63 and 68-64. In this manner the cover section 24 isadequately supported against the weight of overlying loads and forceswhich might otherwise tend to crush the cover section 24 and the eggs inthat carton. Hence the new cartons may be packed and shipped in cases offifteen or thirty, as is customary in the art, without damage to theeggs contained in the cartons and this is of especial significance as tothe eggs in those cartons which are disposed at the bottom of suchthirty dozen cases and which are subjected to substantial overlyingloads.

It will also be noted that in the use of the new carton shown in Figs. 1to 10, inclusive, the inclined bottom wall sections |1-I8 are held inraised and inclined cushion-forming position and the lgngitudinal orcenter partition is held in upright position, when the carton is erectedand illled, without being suspended from or engaged and held up by thetransverse partitions or egg cell dividers II1, |24, |3|, |38, |49, |56,|63, :18, and |11, or by the end iiaps 53, 54, 55 and It will also benoted that in the carton shown in Figs. 1 to 10, inclusive, thetransverse partitions or egg cell dividers and the end ilaps in each ofthe two rows thereof are separate from each other, and are integrallyjoined at'their inner ends to the body portions 283 and 45 of, andterminate at their ends at, the longitudinal or center partitionsections 36 and 31, rather than extending entirely across the cartontransversely thereof, when the carton is in erected condition. Thisarrangement of the transverse partitions or egg cell dividers ||0, ||1,|24, |3I, |38, |49, |56, |63, |18 and |11, and of the end iiaps 54, 53,55 and 55, in the erected carton results from the fact that in thecarton shown in Figs. 1 to 1G, inclusive, the aforesaid transversepartitions or egg cell dividers and the end flaps 54, 53, 58 and 55 areformed in the blank (Fig. 1) in and from the same contiguous andintegrally joined sections 36 and 31 which form the center orlongitudinal partition in the completely assembled and erected cartonrather than forming the transverse partitions or egg cell dividers andthe end flaps and the center or longitudinal partition from separate orspaced sections of the blank.

By reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings it will noted that all of theparts embodied in the blank I5 are formed entirely within thesubstantially parallel side marginal edges 11 and 84 of the blank I5.This effects an economy in the amount of paperboard stock required toform the new egg carton which is formed from the blank I5 compared toother egg cartons of a comparable character in which at least some partsthereof are formed by portions projecting outwardly beyond the sidemarginal edges oi' the blank.

A modification of the invention is illustrated 'in Figs. 11 to 15,inclusive, of the drawings and this form of the invention is designed toprovide an egg carton which may be divided transversely to provide twotwin egg cartons each holding six eggs in two rows of three.

Those parts which are embodied in the modification illustrated in Figs.11 to l5, inclusive, which correspond to or are similar to parts in theform of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 10, inclusive, have been givensimilar reference numerals followed by the additional referencecharacter a. Hence a detailed description of these parts is unnecessaryand only such parts which are embodied in the modification shown inFigs. 11 to 15, inclusive, will be specifically described as distinguishthat form of the invention from the form shown in Figs. 1 to l0,inclusive.

The modified form of the new carton which is illustrated in Figs. 11 to15, inclusive, diiiers from the form of the new carton illustrated inFigs. 1 to l0, inclusive, primarily in the fact that the carton formedfrom the carton blank |5a shown in Fig. 11 is divisible transverselyalong a line oi' severance or weakened union |98 to provide two twin eggcartons each adapted to hold six eggs in three rows of two. Thisnecessitates the formation of four end iiaps 54a-53a-55a-56a in each ofthe complementary half sections of the carton blank 5a or a total ofeight end flaps in the complete carton blank |5a. This necessitates arearrangement of certain of the parts in the form of the divisiblecarton blank shown in Fig. 11 relative to corresponding parts in thenon-divisible form of the new carton blank shown in Fig. 1 including arearrangement of the transverse partitions or egg cell dividers |49,|56, |11, ||0, ||1 and |38 as well as the elimination of thecover-supporting elements 5|, 50, 48, 44, 43, and 4| and the eliminationo1' two of the supporting elements l and 00 and two of the correspondingA supporting elements 83 and 84 which are incorporated in thenon-divisible form of the new egg carton blank which is illustrated inFig. 1. Moreover, the formation of the transversely divisible egg cartonblank I5a, which is shown in Fig. 11, requires a rearrangement of otherparts embodied in the form of the carton blank shown in Fig. 1 as may beseen-by comparing the transversely divisible egg carton blank shown inFig. 11 with the non-divisible egg carton blank shown in Fig. 1.

'Ihe method of gluing, folding, assembling and erecting the transverselydivisible form of the new egg carton which is formed from the blankshown in Fig. 11 is substantially the same as the method employed ingluing, folding, assembling and erecting the non-divisible egg cartonwhich is formed from the blank shown in Fig. 1 and hence it is deemedunnecessary to describe the method of gluing, folding, assembling anderecting the transversely divisible egg carton which is formed from theblank shown in Fig. 11 of the drawings.

It will be noted that the new transversely divisible egg carton which isformed from the blank shown in Fig. 11 is formed from a substantiallyrectangular-shaped blank and that all of the component parts in theblank, as shown in Fig. 11, including all eight end flaps or end walls53a-54a-55af-56a and 53a-54a--55a and 56a are formed entirely within thesubstantially parallel side marginal edges 11a and 84a of thetransversely divisible egg carton blank I5a, thereby effecting aneconomy in the amount of paperboard stock required in the manufacture ofthe new transversely divisible egg carton which is formed from the eggcarton blank |5a shown in Fig. 1.1 as compared to other-transverselydivisible egg cartons in which at least some of the parts in the blankproject outwardly beyond the substantially parallel side marginal edgesof the blank.

rIt will thus be seen from the foregoing description, considered inconiunction with the accompanying drawings, that the present inventionaffords new and relatively simple egg cartons which are economical inmanufacture from the standpoint of the amount of paperboard stock ormaterial required to form the blanks from which the new egg cartons areformed, and that the present invention thus accomplishes its intendedobjects, and that the new egg cartons afforded thereby have thedesirable characteristics and advantages including those hereinbeforepointed out and others which are inherent in the invention.

We claim:

l. An egg carton formed from a single egg carton blank embodying a pairof integrally joined and contiguous central longitudinalpartition-forming sections, said blank being cut, scored, and glued andfolded to form a flat collapsed but erectable carton which in itserected condition includes a front side wall, a rear side wall, endiiaps, transverse partitions or egg cell dividers, a bottom wallincluding a pair of integrally connected bottom wall sections arrangedbetween said front wall and said rear wall and said bottom wall sectionsbeing inclined upwardly from their outer edges toward and along thelongitudinal center of the said bottom wall of the carton andproviding-a raised, inclined cushioned bottom for the carton, a cover, aglue strip adhesively attached to one of said side walls at the innerside thereof, a central longitudinal partition disposed between saidfront wall and the said rear wall, primary bottom wall-supportingelements attached to and extending downwardly from the said centrallongitudinal partition in the same vertical plane therewith andcooperating with the said central longitudinal partition and with thesaid inclined bottom wall for retaining the inner end and longitudinalcenter portion of said inclined bottom wall in raised and upwardlyinclined cushion-forming position, and the said egg carton includingauxiliary supporting bottom wall-supporting elements each having an endportion integrally and hingedly connected to one of the said centrallongitudinal partition-forming sections and secured to one of the saidbottom wall sections for retaining the inner end and longitudinal centerportion of the said inclined bottom wa'l in raised and inclinedcushion-forming position.

2. An egg carton as defined in claim 1 in which all the said auxiliarybottom wall-supporting elements are adhesively secured to one of thesaid bottom wall sections.

3. An egg carton as defined in claim 1 in which all the said auxiliarysupporting elements are adhesively secured to one of the said bottomwall sections on the upper surface of the latter.

4. An egg carton as defined in claim 1 in which the said auxiliarybottom wall-supporting elements are arranged at spaced intervals alongand relative to the said central longitudinal partition and relative tosaid bottom wall of the carton and in which each of the said auxiliarybottom wall-supporting elements is adhesively secured to one of the saidbottom wall sections on the upper surface thereof.

5. An egg carton as defined in claim 1 in which the said auxiliarybottom wall-supporting elements are arranged at spaced intervals alongand relative to the said central longitudinal partition and relative tothe said bottom Wall of the carton and in which each of the saidauxiliary bottom wall-supporting elements is in the form i of asubstantially fiat tongue hingedly connected by a fold line to one ofthe said central longitudinal partition-forming sections and adhesivelysecured to one of the said bottom wall sections on the upper surface ofthe later.

6. An egg carton formed from a single egg carton blank embodying a pairof integrally joined and contiguous central longitudinalpartition-forming and transverse partition-forming and end flap-formingsections, said blank being cut, scored. glued and folded to form a atco1- lapsed but erectable carton which in its erected condition includesa front side wall, a rear side wall, a bottom wall including a pair ofintegrally connected bottom wall sections arranged between said frontwall and said rear wall and said bottom wall sections being inclinedupwardly from their outer edges toward and along the longitudinal centerof the said bottom wall of the carton and providing a raised, inclinedcushioned bottom for the carton, a cover, a glue strip adhesivelyattached to one of said side walls at the inner side thereof, one of thesaid bottom wall sections having a plurality of tongue portionspartially cut therefrom at spaced intervals therealong and one of thesaid central longitudinal partition-forming sections having tongueportions formed integrally therewith at spaced intervals therealong andadhesively joined to the said tongue portions partially cut from thesaid one of the said bottom wall sections to prol vide primary bottomwall-supporting elements extending below the said central longitudinalpartition in the same vertical plane therewith and cooperating with thesaid. central longitudinal, partition and with the said bottom wallsections for retaining the longitudinal center portion of the saidbottom wall sections in raised and Iupwardly inclined cushion-formingposition. downwardly foldable end flaps arranged at each side of thesaid central longitudinal partition, a row of transverse partitions oregg cell dividers arranged at each side of the central longitudinalpartition between the said end flaps, and the said egg carton includingauxiliary bottom wall-supporting elements each having an end portionintegrally and hingedly connected to one of the said centrallongitudinal partitionforming sections and secured to one of the saidbottom wall sections for retaining the inner end and centrallongitudinal portion of the said bottom wall in raised and inclinedcushion-forming position in the event that the said adhesively joinedtongues providing the said primary bottom wall-supporting elementsshould become detached from each other.

7. An egg carton as deilned in claim 6 in which each of the saidauxiliary bottom wallsupporting elements is adhesively secured to one ofthe said bottom wall sections on the upper surface of the latter.

8. An egg carton as deilned in claim 6 in which the said auxiliarybottom wall-supporting elements are arranged at spaced intervals alongand relative to the said central longitudinal partition and relative tothe said bottom wall and in Y which each of the said auxiliary bottomlwallsupporting elements is adhesively secured to one of the said bottomwall sections on the upper surface thereof.

9. An egg carton as defined in claim 6 in which the said auxiliarybottom wall-supporting elements are arranged at spaced intervals alongand relative to the said central longitudinal partition and'relative tothe said bottom wall and in which .each of the said auxiliary supportingelements is in the form of a substantially ilat tongue hingedlyconnected by a fold line to one of the said central longitudinalpartition-forming sections and adhesively secured to one of the saidbottom wall sections on the upper surface of the latter.

10. An egg carton formed from a single egg carton blank embodying a pairof integrally joined and contiguous central longitudinalpartition-forming and transverse partition-forming and end flap-formingsections. said blank being cut, scored, glued and folded to form a fiatcollapsed but erectable carton which in its erected condition includes afront side wall, a rear side wall, a bottom wall including a pair ofintegrally connected bottom Wall sections arranged between said frontwall and said rear wall and said bottom wall sections being separated bya center line and respectively inclined upwardly from their outer edgestoward and along the longitudinal center of the said bottom wall of thecarton and providinga raised, inclined cushioned bottom for the carton,a cover, a glue strip adhesively attached to one of said side walls atthe inner side thereof, a central longitudinal partition disposedbetween said front wall and said rear walland embodying as componentparts thereof supporting elements cooperating with said inclined bottomwall for re- 16 taining the longitudinal center portion of said bottomwall in raised and upwardly inclined cushion-forming position,downwardly foldable end naps arranged at each side of said centrallongitudinal partition, a row of spaced downwardly foldable transversepartitions or egg cell dividers arranged at each side of said centrallongitudinal partition between the said end flaps,

each of the said bottom wall sections having latch receiving openingsrespectively in each outer end portion adjacent the marginal sidesthereof and each of the said openings having an outer side edgeextending substantially parallel to one marginal side edge of the saidegg carton and terminating in spaced relation to the center lineseparating the bottom wall sections, each of the said openings havinganother marginal edge extending angularly inwardly from the terminal endof said outer side edge toward and terminating in spaced relation to thelongitudinal center line of the said bottom wall of the carton, thespace between the terminal end of said last mentioned marginal edge andthe center line being less than the space` between the terminal end ofthe outer side edge of the opening and the center line, thereby defininga generally triangular-shaped latching portion in the body of each ofthe said bottom Wall sections between the said angularly extending edgeof each of the said openings, the said longitudinal center line of thesaid bottom wall and an imaginary line extending from the terminal endof the said outer side edge of the opening to the center line and eachof the said end flaps having a lower end portion adapted to be extendeddownwardly through one of the said openings in the bottom wall of thesaid egg carton and having a hook-shaped latching portion latchinglyengageable beneath the said generally triangular-shaped latchingportions in the said bottom wall section when the said end flaps areextended downwardly through the said openings in the bottom Wall of thesaid carton and bear against the said outer side edges of the saidopenings.

11. An egg carton as defined in claim 1 in which the said egg cartonblank is provided with a transversely extending medial line of weakenedunion so that when the said egg carton'is in glued, assembled, erectedand led condition it may be divided into two twin egg carton sectionseach holding six eggs in two rows of three. 12. An egg carton as definedin claim 6 in which the said egg carton'blank is provided with atransversely extending medial line of weakened union so that when thesaid egg carton is in glued, assembled, erected and filled condition itmay be divided into two twin egg carton sections each holding six eggsin two rows of three.

WILLIAM H. ALLEN.

MAYNARD G. HALL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,511,678 Schwartzberg Oct. 14,1924 1,948,322 Walsh Feb. 20, 1934 1,985,579 Reich Dec. 25, 19342,103,382 Petter Dec. 28, 1937 2,161,128 Boyle -....-.g June 6, 19392,244,961 Nydegger June 10, 1941 2,322,876 'OReilly June 29, 1943

